It’s Time to Thank My Reviewers

With the Holiday Season there comes an urge to give thanks. In the Rolodex of my brain I can flip through many names of those who reach out regularly to help make my life and those of others better. As an author, I am particularly beholden to my reviewers.

For readers, this is a brave new world. There are more books available now at low-cost or no cost than any one person can read in a lifetime. In this new world, books are plentiful, easily found with keyword searches, and short. Readers can shape their searches efficiently and then download the book they want immediately. And when browsing free books, the reader can download a few hundred of them onto their reader and wait until another time to flip through them and decide whether or not to read them. Books are shorter now, and at 150 pages a dedicated reader can devour one or two a night.

And this is why I’m so grateful to my reviewers, regardless of how many stars they assign. It takes time to write a review, and for some, it takes a good deal of effort. It requires mental reviewing and deciding what it was that so impressed us, for good or ill, that we are making this effort. My two published novels, THE OTHER and MESTACLOCAN, are by no means short. I don’t write short; I write the story, edit it, and the length takes care of itself. And for those who read my books, and then take the time to review them, I raise my glass.

I’ve said in past posts that reviews are the life’s blood of authors. I say now that readers who review are the future for authors. With the proliferation of self-published books and eBooks it has become the reader who decides what is worth reading. The literary agents and the publishers and the book stores no longer set the standard. They must turn now to the reader. As Penny Sansevieri wrote in her latest newsletter, “Readers have the power to drive the success or failure of books and no amount of advertising or traditional media will change that.”

And so Readers and Reviewers, I dedicate this post to you, along with my gratitude to those who took the time and effort to review my books. Withhold not your quill, for ye hold the literary world in the palm of your hand.

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Latest Reviews

The Other

good read .. being Dine and knowing the area made for an enjoyable read and have already started the 2nd in series of this book .. good job (APD on Amazon)

Mestaclocan:

I love the way this writer thinks, the powerful way his story brings you in and makes it impossible to put the book down. I've always been a murder mystery nut but R Lawson Gamble certainly leaves me wanting more Tolliver and Eagle Feather adventures. (DB on Amazon)

The Other

Hunters find the the body of a young blond white child on a Indian reservation. ZackTolliver an FBI agent is called in to investigate the situation. He believes she was murdered and left there to be found. Zack sets out tracking bear tracks that suddenly become human bare feet. This is a wonderful tale of this agent and his Indian friend Eagle Feather. Jake does not believe in Skinwalkers but he will become a believer. Great story, masterfully written.

Zaca

I bought all three of your books when you were at Bedford Winery in June. I just finished Zaca. I loved it! I started it on Wednesday on my commute to work and just finished. I could not put it down. Every spare moment I had these last few days my nose was in this book. I can't wait to read the other two! Thank you so much! You definitely have the talent to engage the reader with your story telling. I am definitely a fan! SG

Mestaclocan

"It’s not often that I don’t have any idea about what is really going on, but this one did surprise me. Well written, with unexpected twists in the plot. I’d recommend it as a great read!" Brawley, CA (December 2014)

The Other

"Your characters are so real that I feel like I know them personally. You took me with you to actually witness the events taking place. .." LC

"A very interesting story blending tribal lore, behavioral science, adventure and a hint of romance. I found it hard to put down. I live in Arizona and ..." Sadie McC.

"Great book; the action combined with native American culture made the book hard to put down..." Alicia Hallford

"I thoroughly enjoyed how this author mixed a good mystery with it's geographical and historical / cultural context. I look forward to upcoming books." Robert C. Campagne

"It kept me up reading part of the night. It was a very good mystery with some supernatural thrown in... I would like to read more of this author." Miss S

"A great read that keeps you guessing right up until the end. Excellent characters and storyline..." BobGBob

"One of the best books I have read in a long time. I started reading it last night, slept a couple hours and had it finished today because I was that anxious to find out the ending. Fantastic story!!..." C C

"There aren't enough stars to rate this book high enough in my opinion. I can't believe no one has bought the rights to the book too make movie from it..." Mike Paxton

"Excellent well written and edited...The Other is a super read! It flows fast and smoothly, has a likable lineup of characters and a storyline that draws the reader into its fascinating and eerie world..." SS

"R. Lawson Gamble went to a lot of trouble reseaching this tale of Navajo legend and Navajo beliefs. This is the creepy, yet compelling story of the relentless pursuit of a child killer...It's a must read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery/suspense/thriller type of tale." J B Bergstad

"I started The Other last night and read the first 400 pages! I was up until midnight! Bottom line, LOVE IT..." CL

"A tantalizing and creepy mystery set in the American Southwest, an area which the author brings deliciously to life... I hope for a sequel. I've become too attached to the characters to say goodbye just yet!" LG

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